European Association for the Study of Diabetes

European Association for the Study of Diabetes
Name	European Association for the Study of Diabetes
Founded	13 April 1965
Location	Düsseldorf, Germany
Key people	Chantal Mathieu (President)
Focus	Diabetes mellitus
Website	https://www.easd.org/

European Association for the Study of Diabetes. The European Association for the Study of Diabetes is a leading non-profit, academic medical organisation dedicated to supporting diabetes research, education, and care. Founded in 1965, it brings together scientists, physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals from across Europe and around the world. The association plays a pivotal role in advancing knowledge on the aetiology, pathogenesis, management, and prevention of diabetes and its complications.

History

The organisation was formally established on 13 April 1965 in Montecatini Terme, Italy, following preliminary discussions among prominent European diabetologists. Key founding figures included Professor Joseph Hoet of Belgium and Professor Knud Lundbæk from Denmark, who served as its first president. Its creation was driven by a need for a pan-European platform to foster collaboration in a field then dominated by national societies like the British Diabetic Association and the Deutsche Diabetes Gesellschaft. Early milestones included the launch of its flagship journal, Diabetologia, in 1965 and the organisation of its first annual meeting in Montreux, Switzerland in 1966. Over the decades, it has grown from a small group of specialists into one of the largest and most influential diabetes associations globally, with members from over 130 countries.

Mission and activities

The primary mission is to promote excellence in diabetes care through research and education. Its core activities include funding innovative scientific work via prestigious awards like the Minkowski Prize and the Rising Star Fellowship, and organising educational events such as the EASD Academy. The association actively develops and disseminates clinical practice guidelines, influencing standards of care across Europe and beyond. It also engages in advocacy, collaborating with bodies like the World Health Organization and the International Diabetes Federation to place diabetes high on the global health agenda. A key focus is supporting the next generation of researchers through dedicated Young Investigator forums and training programmes.

Annual meeting and EASD Congress

The EASD Annual Meeting is one of the world's largest and most significant scientific conferences in the field of diabetology. Held each September in major European cities like Barcelona, Berlin, and Lisbon, it attracts over 15,000 delegates from across the globe. The congress features presentations of cutting-edge research from clinical trials such as those from the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial and the UK Prospective Diabetes Study, alongside hundreds of oral and poster sessions. The meeting also includes named lectures honouring leaders like Claude Bernard and Camillo Golgi, and awards ceremonies for the EASD–Novo Nordisk Foundation Diabetes Prize for Excellence. It serves as a crucial forum for networking, launching new initiatives, and shaping the future direction of diabetes research and therapy.

Publications

The association's official journal, Diabetologia, is a leading international publication for clinical and experimental diabetes research. It is published by Springer Nature and ranks among the top journals in the fields of endocrinology and metabolism. The EASD also publishes Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice in partnership with the International Diabetes Federation, focusing on translational and clinical science. Furthermore, it produces a range of educational materials, position statements, and consensus reports, such as those on the management of hyperglycaemia or the use of continuous glucose monitoring. These publications are essential resources for clinicians and researchers from institutions like the Joslin Diabetes Center and the Karolinska Institutet.

Leadership and governance

The association is governed by an elected Executive Director and a Board of Directors, which includes the President, Vice-Presidents, and Honorary Treasurer. The current President is Professor Chantal Mathieu of the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven. Leadership is supported by various committees, including the Scientific Programme Committee for the annual meeting and the Education Committee. Past presidents have included notable figures such as Andrew Boulton and Lars Rydén. The secretariat is headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany, and is led by the Executive Director, managing the day-to-day operations and strategic initiatives of the organisation.

Affiliated organisations

The EASD maintains strong collaborative ties with numerous national and international bodies. It is a founding member of the International Diabetes Federation and works closely with the American Diabetes Association and the European Society of Endocrinology. The association also fosters the EASD Study Groups, which are specialised networks focusing on areas like diabetic neuropathy, islet biology, and diabetes technology. Furthermore, it partners with industry and philanthropic organisations, such as the Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, to fund research and educational projects aimed at improving outcomes for people living with diabetes worldwide.

Category:Medical and health organizations based in Europe Category:Diabetes organizations Category:Organizations established in 1965